Method and related apparatus for monitoring system bus

Abstract

Method and related apparatus for monitoring access modules, like memory or input/output modules, linked with a system bus of a computer system. In the present invention, access modules to be monitored and their corresponding monitoring intervals are preset. When a given access module initiates information exchange via the system bus, it is checked to see if the given access module matches any of the access modules to be monitored. If a match is found, a countdown is started from the corresponding monitoring interval. If the given access module completes the information exchange before the countdown finishes, the given access module is determined to be normal. Otherwise, a predetermined timeout event is executed for responding to a potential problem of the given access module.

1 . A method for monitoring a system bus linked with a plurality of access modules, the access modules performing information exchange via the system bus, the method comprising: 
 when one of the access modules is performing information exchange and conforms to an address range, loading a corresponding monitoring interval and beginning to execute a countdown process; and    if the access module has not completed the information exchange when the countdown process of the monitoring interval is finished, executing a corresponding timeout event.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 setting at least an address range of the access module to be monitored as well as the corresponding monitoring interval when initiating.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 setting the timeout event of the access module to be monitored when initiating.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 setting a monitoring parameter of the access module to be monitored when initiating.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the monitoring parameter is a counting interval of the monitoring interval.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the counting intervals are capable of representing a length of the monitoring interval of the access module.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the timeout event is an interrupt.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the access module has completed the information exchange before the countdown process of the monitoring interval is finished, stopping counting and resetting the monitoring interval.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising executing a non-timeout event.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 setting the non-timeout event of the access module to be monitored when initiating.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for monitoring a system bus linked with a plurality of access modules, the access modules performing information exchange via the system bus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a monitoring module connected to the system bus for monitoring the information exchange of the access modules on the system bus;    an address register module connected to the monitoring module for storing an address range of the access module;    a monitoring interval register module for storing a monitoring interval during which the access module is monitored; and    a counter for counting the monitoring interval,    wherein when the access module, which conforms to the address range stored in the address register, is performing information exchange, loading the monitoring interval corresponding to the access module, and beginning to execute a countdown process.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a timeout event register module connected to the monitoring module for storing at least a timeout event,    wherein if the access module has not completed the information exchange when the counter has completed the countdown process, executing the corresponding timeout event.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the timeout event is an interrupt.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the counter stops counting when the access module has completed the information exchange.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a non-timeout event register module connected to the monitoring module for storing at least a non-timeout event, which is executed if the access module has completed the information exchange before the counter has completed the countdown process.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a monitoring parameter register module connected to the counter for storing a monitoring parameter.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the monitoring parameter is a counting interval of the monitoring interval.  
   
   
       18 . A method for monitoring a system bus linked with a plurality of access modules, the access modules performing information exchange via the system bus, the method comprising: 
 selecting at least a target access module from the access modules;    setting a monitoring interval of the target access module; and    counting a time for the target access module to perform an information exchange while the target access module is performing the information exchange,    wherein when the time is longer than the monitoring interval, executing a timeout event.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the access module has a corresponding address range.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein if an address range of an access module that is performing an information exchange conforms to the address range of the target access module, the access module is determined to be the target access module.